Chapter Text
“I pronounce Mr. Boethius as Guilty” A deep and calm voice covers the court room as the final verdict is given.
Neuvillette's first case as the newly appointed Chief Justice of Fontaine comes to a close. The case has been going on for months with crucial evidence turning up just as he took over. The hearing was exhausting with victim’s best friend turning out to be the actual mastermind, a generic conclusion in his opinion. Cool evening breeze greets him outside the court building as he makes way toward his favorite café. All the follow up paper work has left him craving for something sweet.
Café Lucerne has become his favored dessert destination even though he only visited it once before. It had everything he wanted for a pleasing evening snacks time. The outdoor seating, amiable staff and humble but delicious dishes made it worth going out of his way of daily commute. He enjoyed observing people on the streets while munching on some Conch Madeleine. Times such as these were usually a solitary affair.
A little hand tugs his long coat behind him, “Monsieur, is the seat taken?” he looks behind to see a small girl with big lilac eyes and mint blue hair holding a cup of tea.
“No little miss, you can have it” he gently answers. Apparently the café was crowded today due to special bitter tea sale and had no more empty tables.
The child puts her teacup on the table and seats herself next to him. She sips her seemingly very bitter tea quietly with a serious air. It was as if the child was envisaging the finer taste of individual tea leaves.
He is not one to start conversation but he could not hold back his intrigue, “Little Miss, May I ask, what you are thinking?”
“I am contemplating about my future career”
He certainly didn’t expect this answer from an eight or nine year old looking girl.
“Oh and what options you are pondering over” he replied trying not to sound surprised.
“A Fashion Designer, Furniture maker or Police”
The three very different choices shocked him initially but he decided to answer as he would to an adult. He explained how furniture maker and fashion designer were artistic in nature whereas being in police was completely different field of work. The child’s eyes glowed with mirth at having someone to finally listen to her. She answers about her dissatisfaction toward latest children clothing and furniture line, calling them bland and gender coded. As for the police, she answered with a straight face how corrupt they are and could not be trusted. Therefore she will join them herself and ‘set the system right’, in her words.
A child having these notions about the forces made to protect ordinary citizen was very concerning. He opened his mouth to ask why she thought so but was interrupted by the sound of two horn beeps.
“Ah that’s my dad, he came to fetch me” she says looking at an old worn out car.
“Very well, I shall not keep you occupied further”
“Thanks Monsieur, see you later”. She smiles and hops off toward the car.
He sees the car disappear in the distance and moves his hand to grab last of Conch Madeleine only to find the plate empty. Time does travel faster when you enjoy the company, he chuckles.
“Menthe who was the guy you were talking to? I told you not to talk to strangers!” Elynas brows were furrowed after seeing his baby with some unknown tall man.
“He was a nice person dad!”. Here it starts her dad's usual question bombardment.
“Please dear you can’t judge people just from one conversation.”
“He actually discussed about my careers whereas other people don’t take me seriously”
“Hey I take you very seriously”
“Dad, you just nod at everything I say” she deadpans.
“I nod seriously! and no talking to him until I find out who he is.”
“You worry too much !!”
“Because I am your dad !!!”
“hmpf”
“Sigh”
Tomorrow he needs to ask the café owner about this long white haired guy who might be planning to kidnap his precious baby. Maybe they found him; strong fingers griped the steering wheel tightly as his mind wandered to dark thoughts.
Neuvillette closes the door to his penthouse, takes his long coat off and starts heating bathwater. He makes a beeline to his giant bathtub ignoring all the un-opened boxes littered everywhere. He opens the only organized cupboard in his house filled with rows of color coordinated bath bombs. He zeroes in on a pink bath bomb with little stars embossed on and gently tosses it in now filled tub. The bomb fizzes out into streaks of pink and purple, eventually turning blue. Sweet lavender smell waft his senses and immediately sooths him.
His mind drifts to his grandma’s lavender flower pots back home in Enkanomia. She always told him their people originated from Fontaine generations ago. This made him interested in this artificial island country ever since he was a kid. Whether it was the stunning ocean view apartments he saw on the internet or his childish belief in old tales, he wasn’t sure what finally made him come here.
All this yearning and excitement came to a halt when he got saddled with 3 big cases as soon as he stepped foot in his office. Hearings, meeting and paperwork took all his time that he couldn’t even unpack his belongings. Therefore today’s chat with the little miss was a welcome addition. He is still very curious how she was brought up to have such ideals and in near future would like to chat up with her dad about her ‘careers’.
He bathes for 30 more minutes and heads to kitchen. Dinner will be re-heated frozen food as he only unpacked his microwave and some basic cutlery.